THE PHARISEE IN US

 

 

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"

"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."

 

 

Throughout Matthew 23, we repeatedly read the Lord Jesus' strong and harsh rebuke to the religious leaders of His day - "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" 

In Luke 12:1, it is recorded that the Lord commanded His disciples to - "...Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."

In Matthew 16:12, we read of how He admonished His disciples to beware of the "doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."

 

What exactly did the Pharisees do and teach that the Lord Jesus warned us to shun?

 

There are five basic characteristics  that we would like to discuss in this message which demonstrate to us what to steer clear of in our Christian walk, lest we also find ourselves in the same hypocrisy and under the same judgment.

 

1. SAY AND DO NOT

 

Matthew 23:3 - "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not."

 

The Pharisees' practice of the teachings of the law was not consistent with their preaching. They professed to have great piety but, in all actuality, they did not possess it. They talked about the statutes of the law to other men, but they did not do them.

 

In Romans 2:21-23 the Apostle Paul addressed this same issue of inconsistency. He asked the Jews who were "instructed out of the law" several pertinent questions -

 

"Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?"

 

2. BIND HEAVY BURDENS THAT THEY THEMSELVES WILL NOT CARRY

 

Matthew 23:4 - "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."

 

The Pharisees were notorious for placing great restrictions on others to which they themselves did not adhere. They depicted the Road of Life as being extremely narrow, yet they themselves walked on the broad road. They imposed upon others a strictness in religion, yet they lived a life of indulgence and ease. They loved to exercise authority, dominance, force, and cruelty over others, yet they refused to submit to any burden in their own life.

 

3. DO ALL TO BE SEEN OF MEN

 

Matthew 23:5 - "...they make broad their phylacteries..."

 

In order to show others that they were more holy, strict, and zealous for the law, they broadened their phylacteries. What is a phylactery? It is a small case containing strips of parchment or vellum on which certain portions of the Old Testament were written. It was bound to the forehead and the left arm by thongs or ribbons.

 

Matthew 23:5 - "...and enlarge the borders of their garments."

 

Loose threads were attached to the border of their garment as a fringe. Tassels were worn on the four corners of their outer garments. This border of the garment signified the people of God's distinction from other nations as a God-fearing people and was also a daily reminder to them to keep God's Holy Commandments. The Pharisees broadened the border of their garment to show unto others that they were more spiritual and zealous in keeping the law than the rest of the people.

 

Matthew 23:6 - "And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues."

 

Wherever they went, they loved to have the preeminence among the people and feel an air of superiority over others. The "uppermost rooms" were the places of honor - the places of distinction. At feasts, they had couches on which they reclined. They leaned on their left side on cushions placed around three tables which were arranged to form a square. The middle couch of the table was considered the "chief seat" or "uppermost room" at the feast. The "chief seats in the synagogues" were the seats occupied by the elders and near the pulpit.

 

Matthew 23:7 - "And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi."

 

The marketplace was a place where multitudes of people gathered together. It was here amidst all these people where the Pharisees sought for their "greetings." They were so self-seeking. They desired for the people to recognize and acknowledge their high position and extend great honor and respect to them accordingly.

 

They loved titles such as "Rabbi," "Father," and "Master." These titles of honor and recognition were meant to distinguish them from the people, exalt them as teachers of the law, and denote them as superior to others.

 

Matthew 23:14 - "...for a pretence make long prayer..."

 

These long prayers were actually three hours in length. The first hour was spent in meditation. The second hour consisted of prayer. The third hour once again resorted to meditation. This was all done for appearance and show.

 

4. EMPHASIZE THE NONESSENTIALS AND IGNORE THE ESSENTIALS

 

Matthew 23:24 - "Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."

 

The Pharisees took great pains to keep their traditions, yet they committed scandalous sins of hypocrisy, deceit, and lust before God and men.

 

5. HAVE OUTWARD HOLINESS WITHOUT INWARD PURITY

 

Matthew 23:25-28 - "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

...ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."

 

The Pharisees strove to appear pure and holy before men, yet their hearts were filthy and full of uncleanness and deceit. They pretended to be pious and extremely devoted to God while their hearts were filled with hypocrisy, envy, pride, lust, and malice.

 

Matthew 23:33 - It is no wonder that Jesus referred to them as "serpents" and a "generation of vipers."

 

The Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees - "WOE" - and announced that great punishment was coming their way if they did not repent.

 

To all of His disciples, He warned - "BEWARE" - "BEWARE" of such damnable behavior as exemplified by these religious leaders.

 

Are we like the Pharisees?

Do we exhort and teach others to stop sinning and to live holy and separated unto the Lord, yet we entertain SIN in our own lives?

Are we trying to clean up every one else's backyard, so to speak, when ours is a total mess?

Do we preach unto others about following the strait and narrow way when we ourselves are taking the broad way - the way of anything goes, compromise, worldliness, and SIN?

 

Do we -

...crave for the attention of others?

...want the approval of man as well as pats on our back for the good deeds that we do?

...love titles?

...strive for recognition from others?

...like to feel spiritually superior unto others?

 

What have we been doing in our Christian walk to draw people's attention to ourselves rather than to Jesus?

When we testify for the Lord, do we seek to draw people's attention to our greatness or God's greatness?

Are we so haughty and proud, searching and expecting recognition from all because of our great wisdom, knowledge, gifts, talents, financial status, or spirituality?

 

Do we have a tendency to emphasize the nonessentials in our Christian walk, only to ignore the crucial essentials?

 

Is our Christianity an outward show?

Are we Great Pretenders?

How do we appear before others?

What kind of Christian are we really?

Are there any Skeletons in our closet that are hidden from men but are open to God's sight?

 

HYPOCRISY!

 

When we get right down to it, the Pharisees' major problem was HYPOCRISY!!!

 

"WOE" and "BEWARE."

 

Let us take heed.